System using outdoor ambient air to cool walk in coolers and other areas

ABSTRACT

A system cools a desired region, such as a walk-in cooler, by taking cool ambient outdoor air and delivering that air into the desired region. The system uses an outdoor temperature sensor so that any time the outdoor temperature falls below a desired degree, the thermostat can turn on fans and open backdraft dampers to bring in cold air. This process by-passes existing coolers, compressors and the like of an existing system, saving the user the high cost associated with conventional walk-in coolers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/524,009, filed Aug. 16, 2011, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for cooling and,more particularly, to a system to use cold air from outdoors to coolwalk-in coolers and other areas.

Consumers and businesses pay large utility bills to cool walk-incoolers, freezers and other environments that need to be cooled.Conventional systems are costly and inefficient.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved system for coolingwalk-in coolers, freezers and other environments that need to be cooled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for regulatingtemperature in an interior region comprises an outdoor temperaturesensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading; athermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperaturereading from the outdoor temperature sensor; an air intake communicatingthe interior region with outdoor air; an exhaust communicating theinterior region with outdoor air; and at least one fan moving outdoorair into the interior region, wherein the thermostat control controlsoperation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperaturereading is at or below a predetermined temperature.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system for regulatingtemperature in an interior region comprises an outdoor temperaturesensor operable to obtain an outdoor air temperature reading; athermostat control operable to receive the outdoor air temperaturereading from the outdoor temperature sensor; an air intake communicatingthe interior region with outdoor air; an exhaust communicating theinterior region with outdoor air; and an air intake fan moving outdoorair into the interior region; an exhaust fan moving air in the interiorregion to outdoor air; a first damper disposed in the air intake and asecond damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing airfrom escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the seconddamper preventing outside air from entering the interior region; ascreen disposed on the air intake and on the exhaust; and a sliding ventcover operable to cover at least one of the air intake and the exhaust,wherein the thermostat control controls operation of the at least onefan when the outdoor air temperature reading is at or below apredetermined temperature.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for cooling aninterior region comprises measuring an outdoor air temperature; sendingthe outdoor air temperature to a thermostat control; flowing air intoand out of the interior region when the outdoor air temperature is coldenough to cool to or maintain a desired temperature in the interiorregion.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cooling system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an alternate placement for a roof-topmounted temperature probe in the cooling system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a sliding vent cover of the cooling systemof FIG. 1 in an open configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the sliding vent cover of the coolingsystem of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system forcooling a desired region, such as a walk-in cooler, by taking coolambient outdoor air and delivering that air into the desired region. Thesystem uses an outdoor temperature sensor so that any time the outdoortemperature falls below a desired degree, the thermostat can turn onfans and open backdraft dampers to bring in cold air. This processby-passes existing coolers, compressors and the like of an existingsystem, saving the user the high cost associated with conventionalwalk-in coolers.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a building 10 can include a cooler 12 disposedinside. The cooler 12 can include conventional cooling mechanisms (notshown), such as a compressor, cooling coils and the like. Theconventional cooling mechanisms may be used to cool the inside 38 of thecooler 12 when the system of the present invention is not in use (suchas during warm weather, where the outside ambient temperature is greaterthan a desired temperature inside the cooler 12).

A temperature probe 24 can be mounted outside the building 10 to detectthe outside ambient temperature. A low end switch 46 can interconnectthe temperature probe 24 to wiring 14 to a thermostat control 18. Thethermostat control 18 can, via wires 14, control fans 26, as describedin greater detail below. While the Figures shows the wires 14interconnecting various components, such components may operate througha wireless signal, where the thermostat control 18 can receive awireless signal from the temperature probe 24 and the thermostat control18 can deliver power commands to the fans 26 through a wireless signalas well.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the temperature probe 24 may bedisposed in various different configurations. For example, a hood 40 canbe disposed about at least a portion of the temperature probe 24 toprevent direct sunlight from giving a false outdoor ambient temperaturereading.

The temperature probe 24 can deliver outdoor ambient air temperaturemeasurements to the thermostat control 18. When the outdoor ambient airtemperature is below a certain temperature, as described below, then thesystem can be activated. This system activation temperature can varydepending on the design desired by the user. For example, the system canactivate when the outdoor temperature is less than the temperatureinside the cooler 12. In some embodiments, the system can activate whenthe outdoor temperature is a certain number of degrees less than thetemperature inside the cooler 12. In some embodiments, the system canactivate when the outdoor temperature is less than an actual temperatureinside the cooler, regardless of the cooler setting. This embodiment maybe useful in coolers that are often warmed significantly, where theoutdoor temperature may not be less than the set point of the cooler,but the outdoor temperature is less than the temperature inside thecooler itself. In summary, the system can be activated when the flow ofambient outdoor air would have a positive impact (lowering effect) onthe temperature of the air inside the cooler.

The thermostat 18 may be used to prevent the temperature inside thecooler 12 from getting too cold as well. The thermostat 18 can be usedto turn off the fans 26 if the temperature inside the cooler falls belowa desired minimum set point and the temperature outside is at or belowthat desired minimum set point.

The system can include an inlet duct 20 allowing air from outside topass into the cooler 12. A screen 22 can be disposed on the duct 20 toprevent insects, birds or other animals from entering the duct 20. Adamper 48, such as a butterfly style damper, can be disposed in the duct20 to prevent the outflow of air through the duct 20 when the system isnot in use. A first fan 26 can be disposed in the duct 20 to drive airfrom outside into the cooler 12. An air vent 36 can be disposed at theend of the duct 20 inside the cooler 12 to direct air flow 32 into theinside region 38 of the cooler 12.

A exhaust duct 34 can connect the airflow 32 out of the cooler 12, asshown in FIG. 1. The exhaust duct 34 can include a damper 48, such as abutterfly style damper, to prevent air from entering the cooler 12 whenthe system is inactive. A fan 26 can be disposed in the exhaust duct 34to direct air flow out of the cooler 12. This outflow fan 26 can beoptional, as the inflow fan could drive flow through the cooler and outof the exhaust duct 34. Alternately, the fan 26 in the exhaust duct 34could be used alone and pull air through the intake duct 20 without theuse of a fan in the intake duct 20.

A louver 28 can be disposed on the end of the exhaust duct 34 to directthe exhausted air from inside the cooler 38 to outside the building 10.Similar to the intake duct 20, a screen 22 can be used to preventinsects, birds and other animals from entering the cooler 12 through theexhaust duct 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a sliding vent cover 42 can be disposed toslide between an open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position (FIG. 4)to seal off the exhaust duct 34. While these Figures show the slidingvent cover 42 on the exhaust duct 34, the sliding vent cover 42 can alsobe disposed on the intake duct 20.

Opening 44 can be provided as an optional installation method. WhileFIG. 1 shows an intake through the roof and exhaust through the side ofthe building 10, the intake and exhaust can both be through the roof, orboth through the side of the building, for example. Opening 44 providesan option for another roof intake/exhaust. A pre-fabricated box 30 canbe disposed in the opening 44 (or any of the openings through thebuilding 10) to contain the fan, louvers, dampers and the like.

While the drawings show ducts 20 and 34 interconnecting the inside 38 ofthe cooler 12 with the outside of the building 10, if the cooler isdisposed in contact with the roof or side wall of the building, theducts 20, 34 may be optional or not used. When the ducts 20, 34 areused, they are typically insulated to prevent the loss of cool intakeair, prevent condensation from forming when passing through more humidair inside the building 10, and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A system for regulating temperature in an interior region, the systemcomprising: an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoorair temperature reading; a thermostat control operable to receive theoutdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor; anair intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air; anexhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and at leastone fan moving outdoor air into the interior region, wherein thethermostat control controls operation of the at least one fan when theoutdoor air temperature reading is at or below a predeterminedtemperature.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first fan inthe air intake and a second fan in the exhaust, the first fan pushingoutside air into the interior region and the second fan pulling air fromthe interior region to the outside air.
 3. The system of claim 1,further comprising a first damper disposed in the air intake and asecond damper disposed in the exhaust, the first damper preventing airfrom escaping from the interior region to the outside air and the seconddamper preventing outside air from entering the interior region.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a screen disposed on the airintake and on the exhaust.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprisinga sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one of the air intakeand the exhaust.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the air intakeincludes an intake duct and the exhaust includes an exhaust duct.
 7. Asystem for regulating temperature in an interior region, the systemcomprising: an outdoor temperature sensor operable to obtain an outdoorair temperature reading; a thermostat control operable to receive theoutdoor air temperature reading from the outdoor temperature sensor; anair intake communicating the interior region with outdoor air; anexhaust communicating the interior region with outdoor air; and an airintake fan moving outdoor air into the interior region; an exhaust fanmoving air in the interior region to outdoor air; a first damperdisposed in the air intake and a second damper disposed in the exhaust,the first damper preventing air from escaping from the interior regionto the outside air and the second damper preventing outside air fromentering the interior region; a screen disposed on the air intake and onthe exhaust; and a sliding vent cover operable to cover at least one ofthe air intake and the exhaust, wherein the thermostat control controlsoperation of the at least one fan when the outdoor air temperaturereading is at or below a predetermined temperature.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the air intake includes an intake duct and the exhaustincludes an exhaust duct.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the interiorregion is a walk-in cooler.
 10. A method for cooling an interior region,comprising: measuring an outdoor air temperature; sending the outdoorair temperature to a thermostat control; flowing air into and out of theinterior region when the outdoor air temperature is cold enough to coolto or maintain a desired temperature in the interior region.